Central Gas Systems – How They Work

Central gas systems work for large and small communities, businesses, and manufacturing enterprises in particular for those, which have no access to the utility grid of larger cities. As businesses and homes begin to grow outward to areas, which are close, enough to commute to the city but not within it, more business leaders and community planners are considering their own central gas systems as a means to supply clean burning and efficient LP gas to those living in the area.

Central gas systems consist of three main components with many safety and monitoring features integrated into each step.

The first step in a central gas system is the storage facility. For larger communities this might ideally be located underground for aesthetic reasons or located a distance from the community. Industries will locate their tanks or storage facilities according to the size of the business being supplied in the same way communities plan them.

The storage tanks will have access so that they can be refilled on a regular basis to maintain a steady supply of LP gas. They will also haves outlets where they will run outward to the community or enterprise to be served. These tanks will be graded for safety as well as the use for which they are intended. At this central facility, gas will be refilled, and pumped to maintain a consistent pressure to the community despite changes in consumer demands. Monitors for leaks, for seismic activities and drop offs are in place in this area, making it just as safe as any other community utility or power source.
From the storage facility, main pipes run outward to the area to be serviced. These will be black steel, copper, or HDPE (high-density polyethylene) suitable for maintaining LP gas pressure. Along these pipes, that run underground will be individual valves and sensors, which will permit cutting off a section if necessary and which, monitor pressure along the pipeline. Areas with frequent seismic activity may also have additional measures in place as advised by gas engineers.

Finally, the gas will reach the consumers or business and be ready for their use. It may run through a meter so individual use can be monitored and billed or it may run directly into the plant in the case of a privately owned gas distribution network serving a business. At the end of the Central gas systems are also monitors, which allow for shutoff of gas in case of fire, gas leakage, and seismic activity as well.

Taken as a whole, a central gas system is designed especially for delivery of clean burning and efficient LP gas to the consumer. The special storage, sensors, and delivery components in central gas systems make it as safe as any other power source for the homeowner and community and business enterprise.

Businesses prefer clean burning gas due to the ability to control temperature precisely. Bakeries, glass factories and any enterprise which relies on heat processing to produce a product, find gas much more suitable than electricity.